Food and Water Watch signs on to Rastetter ethics complaint

Rastetter describes documented land grab attempt as "misinformation."

National powerhouse environmental group Food and Water Watch (FWW) has signed on to our ethics complaint against Iowa Regent and AgriSol CEO Bruce Rastetter stepping up criticism of the embattled Regent. FWW has been a long time ally of CCI.

“Rastetter has betrayed the trust of the Iowans he is supposed to be serving on the Board of Regents and has severely compromised the institutional credibility of ISU,” said FWW Executive Director Wenonah Hauter. “His continued presence on the Board sends a strong message that Iowa State exists to serve the political and corporate elite, not the hard-working, honest family farmers and everyday citizens whose taxpayer dollars fund the university.”

FWW signed onto our ethics complaint on the same day that Rastetter denied any conflict of interest in an interview with the Des Moines Register. Rastetter claims that ISU pulled out of the AgriSol deal because of "misinformation" that was "difficult to counteract." Far from being "mis-"information, CCI members know that the news about AgriSol and ISU was difficult to counteract because it was true! ISU and AgriSol were involved in shady dealings with the Tanzanian government that, far from feeding anybody, would have made millions of dollars while displacing 160,000 refugees.

CCI expects the ethics complaint to be considered by the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board on August 13.  CCI members have been hosting "Fire Rastetter" events all across the state, so check the calendar regularly to see when we will be in your area.

Add your name to the petition calling on Branstad to Fire Bruce Rastetter:

  • Join hundreds of other Iowans calling on Gov. Branstad to fire Bruce Rastetter —  the man unable to separate his role as an Iowa public Regent from his personal financial interest. 

Join the fight

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